Donations pouring in for Pakistani student facing deportation

By
KBJR News 1

February 17, 2014Updated Feb 18, 2014 at 7:32 PM CDT

Duluth, MN (NNCNOW.com)--- An online fundraising site for Shahzaib Bajwa, the Pakistani student recovering in a Duluth hospital with a traumatic brain injury, has raised more than $100,000 for his medical care

When we met with Shahraiz Bajwa five days ago, the site had raised just $3,000.

As of Monday, the site has raised $120,475 for future medical expenses.

The family says at least $300,000 will be needed to ensure 22–year–old Shahzaib Bajwa gets the medical care he needs.

This comes on top of news that the Pakistani consulate in Chicago and the State Department have given the family verbal assurances that Pajwa will not be deported back to Pakistan.

Bajwa was here on a student visa from Pakistan attending classes at UW–Superior.

He remains at Essentia Health St. Marys 3 months after his vehicle collided with a deer.

His student visa is set to expire on February 28 and he was facing being deported back to Pakistan.

Shahraiz Bajwa for his brother from the community and the nation has been remarkable.

"It's tremendous and marvelous that we have raised this much money in like 5 days. We are very thankful to all of those people who have joined this cause and who have been praying for us and we appreciate their help and we also wish nothing like this happens to them or their family," said Shahraiz Bajwa.

The family should know for sure by the end of the week whether his visa will be extended

It is unknown at this time if Bajwa would remain at Essentia Health if his Visa is extended.

In response, Essentia Health issued the following statement:

Our focus at St. Mary's Medical Center is on the health and care of thispatient while he is at our facility. This includes protecting his privacy. We are working collaboratively with his family and caregivers, along with the U.S. and Pakastani governments, to reach the best outcome for him and his family.